Shoe-tree



Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. KAYE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TEE KAYE SHOE TREEIVIANU- FACTURING CO., INC.,

F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE-TREE.

Application led June 4,

'' tion whereby the tree may be used in connection with shoes which havebecome stretched by wear or which are of diiferent sizes within aflimited range.

Another purpose is to produce a shoe tree capable ofholding the upper orvamp in an adjustably stressed condition.

A further aim is in the provision of means whereby the shoe isthoroughly ventilated while the tree is in place.

These and analogous aims, objects and purposes such as ease ofoperation, adaptability, long wearing qualities and low cost ofconstruction, are accomplished by the novel combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter `describedand shown in the accompanying drawing,forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 isalongitudinal sectional view taken through the center of an embodiment ofthe invention, shown in a closed position.

Figure 2 is a bottom or sole plan view of the same. f Y

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, andillustratingthe tree in. a semi-expanded and raised position, as in use.f

Figure f1 is a perspective view of the end of the bar and itsengaging'element.

The front portion ofthe tree, generallyl designated in the-drawing bythe numeral 10, is shaped in the form of a last with opposed recesses 11in its rear upper portion, the same acting as linger grips inmaneuvering it and is preferably curved, as at 12, at the rear to matchthe correspondingly concavely curved front 13 of the heel portion 14.

A slot 15 extends from the rear end 12 towards the toe, inthe bottom ofthe front ,member l0, at the center, to `an undercut,

1923. sei-iai n0..643,141.

its rear end in conformit with the sha Je' of the heel member. v

The forwardly extending portion of the bar is fitted to loosely engagein the slot 15, reduced in thickness at its front portion 20, whichcontains a narrow elongated rectangular opening 21, the bar beingreduced in weight by an elongated recess 22y in its upper side as shownin Fig. 1.

A trilobed plate 23 is secured over the recess 16., level with the undersurface of the tree, by screws 24 entering therein and formed on theplate is a post 25 extending nearly o1' quite to the bottom of the slot15 at its junction with the recess 16. y

An arm 26 extends integrally from the inner end of the post, parallelwith the plate, towards the undercut end of the recess 16 and formed onthe arm, at its end and at a point midway in its length, are downwardlyext-ending lugs respectively 2 and 28, the ends of kthese lugs beingspaced from Vthe inner side of the plate a distance slightly in excessof the thickness of the bar element 20, through the slot 21 of which thepost and lugs extend.

In the Curved rearA surface 12 of the tree body are formed two or'moreangular notches,.as at 29 and 30, and selectively cngageable therein isa. detcnt 31 formed by bending' a wire to present a central loop` itsangularly disposed ends 32 being formed to closely embrace the sides ofthe heel element 14, and then bent at rightangles forming pivots 33entering from opposite sides of the heel element and turning freelytherein, this device providing means for stretch'- ing the shoe and alsofor Ventilating and drying it by the free access of air to the interior.

In operation, the tree is entered into the shoe in the position shown inFig. 1 and if found to fill the shoe from toe to heel, the rear portionof the front element is raised, pivoting on the end of the bar to permitthe detent 31 to engage in either of the notches, holding the shoestretched ina manner apparent in Fig. 8.

1,11 Case the tree in 4its normal tion is insuiificient in length torthe shoe, the heel portion 14 is grasped in the hand, the bar 18 movedby suitable action outwardly to clear the lug 27 and the end of the barengaged with the arm between the lugs, so that thrust is taken on theouter lug 27, thus spacing the surfaces 12 and 13, causing actualoperative elongation ot the tree.

In a similar manner the end of the bar may be engaged witlr the lug 2S,increasing the operative length ot the tree to its 'full extent, but atno time can the bar, and hence the heel portion ot the tree, be releasedfrom the front portion except by removing the holding screws.

It will also be apparent that the angular* ity, and hence upwardstretching effect, can be adjusted by the detent and notches indicated.

Due to the simple construction and ease of operation in making requiredadjust.- ments, all of the several objects are thought to be fulfilled.

Although the foregoing is descriptive ot the preferred embodiment ot theinvention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in itsconstruction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with thescope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, said front memberbeing longi tudinally recessed in its lower side, a rectangular barrigidly iixed `in said rear member to extend into thementioned recess,and meanscarried by said front member adjustably engaging the end ofsaid bar.

2. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, said front memberbeing longitudinally recessed in its lower side, a bar iixed in saidrear member to extend into the mentioned recess, said bar being reduce-din thickness at its front end and having- :in opening in its reducedportion, a plate fixed on said front member to extend over he recesstherein, and means on said plate extending through the opening in saidbar adapted to adjustably engage the end of the bar.

S. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, said front memberbeing longi-` tudinally recessed in its lower side, a bar iixed in saidrear member to extend into the mentioned recess, said bar being reducedin thickness at its front end and having an opening in its reducedportion, a plate tix-ed on said front member to extend over the recesstherein, a post extending inwardly through the opening in said bar, anarm on said post, and lugs on said arm selectively engageable with theend of said bar an-d on which the bar may pivot.

A shoe tree comprising normally contacting front and rear members, ahinged bar connecting said members permitting relative angular movementin a vertical plane, means carried by said front member cooperative withsaid bar for maintaining said members in adjustment, means forpositively adjusting the operative length ot` the tree, and means onthe. rear member for holding the front member in an inclined position.

5. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, normally in contact,said front member having notches in its contacting sur- Vtace, a detentpivoted on said rear member` adjnstably engageable in the notches, a barfixed in said heelmember extending loosely into the front member, andmeans on said iront n'ieniber against which the end of said baradjustably abuts, said means permitting a pivoted movement of said barand rear element relative to the front element.

6. A shoe tree comprising separable front and rear members, said frontmember having a longitudinal recess in its bottom, a plate having prongsset in the bottom of said iront section, a bar iixed in the rear sectionto freely enter the mentioned recess, said bar having an opening toengage selectively with the prongs, a lever pivoted in the rear'section, and means in the front section to selectively engage saidlever.

7 A shoe tree comprising separable front and rear members, said frontsection having linger recesses in its sides and a groove in its bottom,a bar rigid in said rear section at the center thereof, said bar beingfreely receivable in the mentioned groove, means in thevgroove toa'djustably engage the end of said bar, and means pivotally engaged insaid rear section vto maintain the -ront seotion at differentinclinations relative to the rear section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this application.

JAMES E. KAYE.

